Breaking into Comics and Staying In
Thursday, July 18, 2013, 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Room 30CDE
So you want to make comics? This program is your first step toward actually doing it! Top comic book creators Brandon Siefert (Witch Doctor, Hellraiser) and Bobby Curnow (IDW editor, Writer, Night of 1,000 Wolves) discuss the ins and outs of the comic industry-specifically, what it takes to break into comics and how it’s done! This is the panel that no writer or artist dare miss. Bonus: In addition to breaking in, learn how to stay in the comics business! Moderated by Comics Experience’s Andy Schmidt (former Marvel and IDW editor, writer).

Surviving Collaboration
Friday, July 19, 2013, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Room 30CDE
Comics are a collaborative medium. Do you know how to bring out the best from your collaborators? Join former Marvel and IDW editor/writer and Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt, artist Klaus Janson (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns), writer Josh Fialkov (The Ultimates, Echoes), and writer Brandon Siefert (Witch Doctor, Hellraiser) as they discuss collaborative best practices, tips for writers and artists, and strategies for handling editor feedback. Become the kind of creator everyone wants to work with!

Living Together: Business and Creative Goals Can Align
Friday, July 19, 2013, 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Room 30CDE
Learn how a good business plan can lead to great creative results and how great creative can inform an even greater business plan. The minds behind Brand + Entertainment Solutions believe that the two go hand in hand–or more to the point–should go hand in hand but often do not. Developing keys to successful business and creative execution are the focus of this panel. Featuring B+E Solutions’s and Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt (CEO, B+E Solutions), Jon Bresman (Star Wars/MAD magazine veteran), Steve Drucker (VP of IP development, Hasbro), and Josh Fialkov (award-nominated screenwriter, graphic novelist, and video game writer).

Comic Book Art Fundamentals
Saturday, July 20, 2103, 4:00p.m. – 5:00p.m.
Room: 30CDE
Take this crash course into how to create powerful, readable comic book art. The fundamentals for what makes comic book art different from illustration, painting, and storyboarding and how to get started are covered by the experts from Comics Experience. Featuring Andy Schmidt (former Marvel and IDW editor, Comics Experience founder) and artist Klaus Janson (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns).

Dissecting Brands: How do you know what Makes Batman Batman
Saturday, July 20, 2013, 6:00p.m. – 7:00p.m.
Room: 30CDE
Have you ever seen a movie or read a book and thought, that didn’t feel like the character or franchise? There’s a reason for that. Comics Experience founder Andy Schmidt (CEO, B+E Solutions), Jon Bresman (Star Wars/MAD magazine veteran), Steve Drucker (VP of IP development, Hasbro), Josh Fialkov (award-nominated graphic novelist), and Marc Guggenheim (executive producer/writer, Arrow) offer an in-depth journey on how to dissect characters and franchises-figuring out what makes them tick, what makes them work, and what’s vital to that brand or franchise.

We hope to see you there!

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If you want to make comics, write, draw, letter, and color comics, or improve as a comics creator, you’ll find like-minded friends and colleagues in our online workshops and courses. We hope to see you there!

“Comics Experience gave me invaluable feedback on my work, encouraged me to challenge myself artistically AND provided essential real-world knowledge about the comic book industry. Throw in a supportive, friendly community that includes top-notch professionals and you’ve got simply the best place to become the comics professional you aspire to be.”

Bobby CurnowEditor at IDW Publishing, writer of "Night of 1,000 Wolves," a story workshopped in our forums